Abstract: A submersible biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality in situ includes a submersible chamber constructed of a di-electric material and sized to allow suitable signals from one or more aquatic organisms to be received by eliminating cross-talk between cells while allowing ambient conditions to be maintained inside the chamber. The aquatic organism exhibits ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality which manifest as electrical signals picked up by electrodes and communicated to a pre-amplifier that conditions the signals for communication to a land-based amplifier and/or controller that is used to interpret the signals to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism.

Abstract: A submersible biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality in situ includes a submersible chamber constructed of a di-electric material and sized to allow suitable signals from one or more aquatic organisms to be received by eliminating cross-talk between cells while allowing ambient conditions to be maintained inside the chamber. The aquatic organism exhibits ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality which manifest as electrical signals picked up by electrodes and communicated to a pre-amplifier that conditions the signals for communication to a land-based amplifier and/or controller that is used to interpret the signals to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism.

Abstract: A portable automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism and a water inlet for directing water to the exposure chamber. The aquatic organism has ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes sense electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines a plurality of ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The water being evaluated may be recirculated through the system for further analysis.

Abstract: A portable automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism and a water inlet for directing water to the exposure chamber. The aquatic organism has ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes sense electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines a plurality of ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The water being evaluated may be recirculated through the system for further analysis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for manipulating and precisely positioning devices, such as micro-injectors, in relation to small (less than 100 micron diameters) organisms and objects in order to conduct various research activities thereon. The invention has a high degree of flexibility and stability due to its method of construction to include the use of magnetic force to attach certain of the appratus' components to each other.